Jacob Perry Heading To Granite State Pro Stock Series In 2019

Jacob Perry it seems is always on the move, and that will be the case once again in 2019 for the Pawcatuck teenager.

Perry, a former regular at both the New London-Waterford Speedbowl and Thompson Speedway, told RaceDayCT exclusively that he will be heading to the Granite State Pro Stock Series for the 2019 season.

It marks a return to full-fendered racing for Perry, who spent the 2018 season competing full-time with the Valenti Modified Racing Series.

Perry, who turns 17 on December 26, will compete with the Granite State Pro Stock Series in a car owned by Ben Bargnesi as a teammate to fellow former New London-Waterford Speedbowl regular Ray Christian III.

“I’m super excited,” Perry told RaceDayCT Saturday “… We had a lot of offers and a lot of opportunities come to the table, but unfortunately they weren’t all full-time deals and we were really looking to stay full-time racing. … This opportunity came available and we jumped on it. … I’m super excited to join a winning team. I just think it’s going to be a great combination and we’re going to have a lot of fun with it.”

Christian finished third in the Granite State Pro Stock Series standings in 2018 driving for Bargnesi.

“We just think the Granite State [Pro Stock Series] is a great series overall,” Perry said. “It’s very well run and I’ve always wanted to run Late Models. I grew up watching my dad run Late Models and when the Super Late Model opportunity – or Pro Stock – we really couldn’t pass it up. I absolutely love those cars and it’s always been a dream of a mine to race one. It just happened to click and I feel at home already.”

Perry ended up fifth in the Valenti Modified Racing Series standings in 2018 and won the division’s Rookie of the Year title. He said he isn’t walking away entirely from Modified racing.

“My Modified career definitely isn’t over,” Perry said. “I’ve still got some things in the works for some Modified races for 2019 as well. But it would all be part-time stuff, just kind of fill-in races. So I’m excited for those as well because I learned a lot in the Modifieds and had a blast driving them.”

Perry began racing at four years old in Quarter Midgets and head to Bandolero’s at nine. Perry landed in the Mini Stock division at the New London-Waterford Speedbowl in 2016, where he had three victories and finished seventh in the division standings.

He returned to the division in 2017 and finished with two victories and was third in the standings. He also finished third in the Mini Stock standings at Thompson Speedway in 2017. Perry also had six victories in the New England Pro Four Lites and won the Lites championship for the division in 2017.

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